Parental Involvement and Support Services
Research suggests that the home is just as important as the school in terms of children’s learning. Because relatively little of a student’s time is spent inside the classroom, it is important that learning concepts are both introduced and reinforced in the home.
There are various ways in which a parent’s connection with their children’s school can influence academic achievement. Membership in the UT Elementary Parent Forum is highly encouraged. The Parent Forum benefits the school tremendously in various ways and is an important part of the school’s atmosphere of parental contribution. However, parental involvement with the school consists of more than participation by attending school events, helping with fundraising or being a part of the Parent Forum.
The best academic outcomes occur when a parent regularly communicates with their child’s teacher about their children’s curriculum and progress. Higher rates of college attendance are seen in families whose parents take an interest in what their children are learning, assist with homework if needed and possible, and express to their children an expectation of going to college.
School administrators, teachers, parents, and students must all work together to ensure the best possible outcomes for academic success. Charter schools have an exceptional need for working together with families, and we have been successful thus far because of the climate of caring at the school. At UT Elementary, students, parents, teachers and administrators must all sign a compact agreement. Parents promise to:
- Have high expectations for their child(ren)
- Help their child(ren) attend school and be on time
- Believe in the child(ren) and monitor homework time
- Actively volunteer at school at least once a month
- Actively participate in at least one school fundraiser per year
- Read to and with their child(ren)
- Assure their child(ren) attends his/her grade level performance
- Clearly and frequently communicate with the school
- Know rules and regulations
- Send their child(ren) prepared for school every day
In the most recent parent climate survey by CASEL, UT Elementary parents ranked the school 90% positive on the opportunity to participate in their child(ren)’s education, a safe school environment, and a feeling of respect from school staff.
In addition to the necessary agreements between the parents and the school about expectations for parental involvement, UT Elementary provides numerous opportunities for coaching in how to parent a college-bound student. Says Dr. Ramona Treviño, founding principal and CEO of UT Elementary: “In my career I’ve not yet met a parent who does not love and want the best for their child. Sometimes they just need guidance on how to help their child be the best student they can be.”
Next spring, UT Elementary will add a free program called Kidshape, where students and parents together will learn physical activities that are appropriate for the whole family and cooking strategies that improve nutrition at home. The Connected Communities program, allows our students’ families check out laptops for home use. With access to these laptops, family members are able to assist their child with homework, or help older siblings apply for college among other uses. Our social worker will provide technology literacy training to those parents who request it, and help them to access community resources.
Our school social worker serves as the link and liaison between schools, families, neighborhoods and the larger community to which we each belong. She currently partners with our kindergarten teacher Eunice Tanco to hold parent training sessions, such as “How to Communicate with Your Child” and “How to Do Homework With Your Child.” The school social worker also ensures that students’ families with additional personal needs, educational, occupational, or basic needs, are connected with community partners who provide those services.
UT Elementary School consults with Professor Kathy Armenta at The University of Texas at Austin School of Social Work regarding best-practices in parental involvement school policies.
